Young pitcher earns respect of District 20-5A

KEMPNER UP-AND-COMERHolmes masters foes, fear

L. SCOTT HAINLINE, Chronicle Correspondent

Published 5:30 am, Thursday, July 15, 2004

As a freshman last softball season, Kempner left-hander Danye Holmes admits she was a little nervous as the season-opening starting pitcher. But those butterflies vanished with every pitch, every inning and every game.

Eventually it was the opposition that had butterflies as Holmes went on to a sparkling year on the mound and at the plate as the District 20-5A Newcomer of the Year.

"I found out in that first varsity game and over the early part of the season that I could hang with these girls," Holmes said. "At first when I came in, I was a little nervous, but that went away pretty fast."

As did opposing batters against Holmes, who recorded wins in 15 of Kempner's 18 victories and finished the season with 150 strikeouts in 127 innings and a 0.99 earned run average. She also was one of the Lady Cougars' top hitters with a .436 average and a team high 25 RBIs.

Kempner (18-12) advanced to the playoffs for the sixth time in the past seven years last spring before dropping an 8-4 decision to Mayde Creek in the bi-district playoffs.

"She just wanted to try it and the coaches knew she had a good arm," said Brenda Holmes. "She wasn't allowed to pitch in one of her first games as a pitcher because she was coming off the rubber the wrong way. She corrected that and went on from there."

Holmes has taken some private lessons, and also works on her form with her father.

"I saw some of the other girls pitching back then and I just had to give it a shot," said Holmes, who plays first base when not on the mound.

"I would love to compete in college softball some day and that's a definite goal," Holmes said. "I've also watched the United States Olympic team on television and just to be able to play against a team like that would be a dream come true."

Holmes' older sister, Dawn, 22, is a University of Houston graduate who competed in basketball and volleyball at Kempner. Her brother, senior-to-be Dante Holmes, 17, has played football and baseball for the Cougars.

"I'm really looking forward to my next three years at Kempner and playing for coach (Marilyn) Terrell," Holmes said. "We're going to do our best to try and finish in first or second place in the district."

Kempner placed third in District 20-5A last season behind state and national champ Elkins and second-place Clements.

"We have two solid pitchers in Holmes and Moreno coming back, and our catcher is returning, and we'll need every bit of that experienced battery and more to try and climb to the top of our very-tough district," Terrell said. "We do have to replace our entire infield. That will be a challenge."